November 10, 2012 12:01 AM CSTNovember 10, 2012 01:30 AM CSTCarlton: Mack Brown reunited Darrell Royal and Texas, and the program was better for it

Carlton: Mack Brown reunited Darrell Royal and Texas, and the program was better for it

3/11

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2. Oklahoma (6-2, 4-1): Even without either team scoring in the first quarter, the Sooners beat Iowa State, 35-20 and Landry Jones logged his 10th career 400-yard game. None of the four teams left on Oklahoma’s regular season (West Virginia, TCU, Baylor, Oklahoma State) are ranked

The friendship between Darrell Royal and Mack Brown spanned generations and college football eras.

It was equal parts mutual admiration and mutual support, one reason today’s Texas home game with Iowa State will be a poignant moment for Brown, as well as the UT fans, and a celebration of Royal’s life.

The legendary Texas coach died Wednesday at age 88. Texas will honor Royal by starting in his signature Wishbone formation and with a “DKR” decal on the Longhorn helmet logo.

The game, which has significance for Texas’ bowl placement thanks to a three-game winning streak, has been overshadowed by Royal’s death.

“I know he’ll be watching,” Brown said Thursday night on the Longhorn Network.

Admittedly distraught after receiving a text message that Royal had died Wednesday morning, Brown released a heartfelt statement. His first public comments followed on the LHN.

Brown recalled that his father and grandfather had died just before he took the Texas job prior to the 1998 season.

“He [Royal] blessed me with so much wisdom. … Without realizing it, he filled a void for me,” Brown said.

Royal was one of the few coaches who could relate to coaching a monster program.

Win or lose, Royal knew what worked and the pitfalls that came with the Texas job.

“He was a guy who could make complicated things seem so simple when you asked him, which I just loved,” Brown said.

Just as important, Brown reunited Royal and Texas, involving him in big moments and day-to-day practice visits.

Strange as it seems now, Royal had drifted away from the program for a variety of reasons.

Royal had favored longtime assistant Mike Campbell as his replacement, which failed to endear him to eventual successor Fred Akers. David McWilliams, a former Royal player and assistant, didn’t want to bother his old boss. John Mackovic strived to build his own tradition at Texas.

Conversely, Brown was a longtime Royal admirer who embraced what had come before. Royal had recommended Brown when the search for a new coach was taking place.

This week, athletic director DeLoss Dodds said he thought Royal “made a huge difference of Mack and [wife] Sally being in Austin.”

Not long after Brown took the job, Royal called him to suggest catching a local country singer in Austin. Great, Brown said. Royal offered to drive and then asked where Brown’s office was.

“Same place as John’s,” Brown said.

Royal said he needed a little help. “I don’t think I’ve ever been there,” he said.

Later on a drive to a coaching clinic in San Antonio, Royal told former assistant Spike Dykes that Brown had “recharged me. He’s included me in stuff.”

After Ricky Williams’ epic performance at Nebraska in 1998, Brown called Royal from the locker room. The same exchange occurred after Major Applewhite led a Holiday Bowl victory in 2001. Despite the late hour, Royal was awake and enthused.

At least once, Royal declined Brown’s offer. After the 2005 win over Southern California, Brown asked that Royal join the team for the national championship trophy presentation.

“He sent a message back [saying] ‘This is your time, this is your moment and I don’t want to take it away,’” Brown said.

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